thomas



' (Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet .1.

J. THOMAS. SUPPURTING AND GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MACHINES.

No. 380,170. Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

W1 .TNESISES O4, M

(ModeL) 2 Sheets-+Sheet 2. J. THOMAS. SUPPORTING AND GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR SEWING MAGHINES. No. 330,170.

Patented Nov. 10, 1885.

1 JV VEJV TOR N. PETERS. Fholo-Lxlhogrnpher. wasnmhm. ac.

NITED STATES PATENT tries.

JOSEPH THOMAS, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

SUPPORTING AND GUIDING ATTACHMENT FOR'SEWING-MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,170, dated November 10,1885,

Application filed May 14, 1885. Serial No. 165,489. (Model) To all whom it may concern:

Beitknownthatl, JosEPHTHoMAsac-itt; zen of the United States, and a resident of N ew; York, in the county of New York and State of; New York, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Supporting and Guiding Attachments for Sewing-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull;

clear, and exact description of the invention,

which will enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of, this specification, and in which v Figure l is a perspective View showing my invention applied to a sewing-machine in po-? sition for operation. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a front view.

vertical transverse sectional view taken on position for being operated upon.

the line 3 y in Fig. 3.

upon by my improved machine.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional detail view showing, on an enlarged scale, part of the mech,an-'

matically in a downward direction by means ism illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures. This invention relates to an improved attachment adapted, especially, to be appliedto that class of sewing-machines which are provided with horizontal revolving feed-disks, and with a horizontal reciprocating needle making an overhanded stitch; and it has for its object to provide a simple and convenient attachment for holding and guiding the material to be operated upon, in the manner and for the purposes which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

With these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates asewing-machine to which my improvement has been attached, B B representing the horizontal feed disks, 0 the needle-bar, D

the needle, and E the looper.

Fig. dis a In the construc tion of these parts no novelty is herein claimed.

The front side of the machine is provided with one or more suitably-constructed curved or U-shaped brackets, F F, supporting the longitudinal guidebar G, which may be connected vertically-adjustably to the said brackets by means of set-screws H, or in any suitable manner. The said guide-bar consists of a strip or plate of sheet metal, set on edge, as it were, and extending between the feeddisks B B, the edges of which, however, arein contact with each other through a slot, I, near the upper edge of the said guide-bar. This slot not only admits of the contact with each other of the edges of the feed-disks, but it also admits of the vertical adjustment of said guide-bar, as already set forth. Such vertical adjustment, however, is very limited in extent, and is merely for the purpose of adj usting the guidebar to cloth or material of various thicknesses, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Secured to the front side of the frame or casing of the machine is a bracket, .l, having a vertical arm, K, which is provided with a dovetailed slot, L, in which a slide, M, is fitted to move vertically, it being forced autoof, asuitably-arranged spring, N. Pivoted to the upper end of the said slide is a cam-lever, 0, adapted to bear against the upper end of the arm K, and by manipulating which the slide M may be raised and retained in an elevated. position, in substantially the same manner as an ordinary foot-bar. The lower end of the slide M has aforwardly-extending spindle, P, on which is journaled a roller,Q, having two annular grooves, R and S, the former of which registers with the upper edge of the guide-bar G, and is adapted to ride thereon, while the latter is on the inside of the said guide-bar, and is somewhat deeper than the groove B. To the front or outer side of the slide M, above the roller Q, is secured an elastic arm, T, the lower end of which is adapted to bear against the upper edge of the guide-bar G at a point close to the needle. Thelower end of the said arm or spring may be equipped with asleeve, U, as shown in the drawings hereto annexed, serving as a guide for braid or cordwhen such is to be applied to the work; but such sleeve may be entirely dispensed with, or when present it is not necessarily used, inasmuch as the elastic arm will still serve to press the material to be sewed down against the upper edge of the guide-bar near the needle.

The operation of this invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed.

Two pieces of material to be united are first connected by an ordinary seam, A, in such a manner as to leave two projectingedges, B and G, of unequal width. The material is then placed across the guide or supporting bar, as shown in the drawings, in such a manner that the wide edge 0 shall extend into the groove S of the roller Q, while the groove R of the latter will ride upon and hold the material in contact with the upper edge of the guidebar. It is obvious that the roller is to be raised while the material. is being placed in the ma-' chine. The stitch formed by the machine will attach the extreme edge of the edge 0 to the body of the goods, as will be clearly seen in the drawings. The two pieces ofmaterial will thus be united practically by a double seam. A great gain of strength results from this form of seam, and hand-work,which has hitherto been found necessary on this class of work. is wholly dispensed with. Braiding or cording may be applied or omitted, as may be desired.

An important advantage of this invention is that by properly adjusting the guide-bar with relation to the thickness of the goods which is to be operated upon the pieces of goods may be united without the stitch showing on the right side, the needle merely pierc-. ing the goods without penetrating it.

In the manufacture of this device various minor changes may be found desirable, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit-myself to the precise construction and arrangement of parts herein set forth, but reserve to myself the right to all modifications which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1-. In an attachment for sewing-machines of the herein-described class, the longitudinal guide bar or plate adapted to support the material to be operated upon, and provided with a slot near its upper edge for the accommodation of the feed mechanism, in combination with the grooved roller arranged as described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. 1n an attachment for sewing-machines of the herein-described class, the longitudinal guide bar or plate mounted and vertically adjustable upon suitable curved or U -shaped brackets for the purpose of supporting the material to be operated upon, said bar or plate being provided with aslot near its upper edge for the accommodation of the feed mechanism, in combination with the grooved roller arranged as described, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. I

3. In an attachment for sewing-machines of the herein-described class, the combination, with the longitudinal supporting-bar or guideplate, of a vertically-movable slide carrying a roller having two grooves, the outer one of which registers with and is adapted to ride upon the upper edge of the said guide-plate, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 4. In an attachment for sewing-machines of the herein-described class, the herein-described roller having a pair of annular grooves, the inner one of which forms a guide for a projecting edge of the material to be operated upon, while the outer groove straddles the ma- JOSEPH THOMAS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM V. A. POE, 'FREDK. BALZ. 

